Military Personnel and Veterans: Mentor Children of the Fallen - Jacksonville, FL

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TAPS is seeking 100 current and former service members to mentor children of the fallen at TAPS Southeast Regional Good Grief Camp in Colorado Springs, CO.

THE SURVIVOR PROGRAM: At the Southeast Regional Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp, surviving military family members from across the region come together and connect with others who have experienced similar losses. Children ages 4-18 create lasting friendships, learn coping skills, build resiliency, and honor their fallen service member. Group lessons combine team building, sharing, and playing to create an environment where children feel safe to explore their grief. Pairing each child with their own mentor is the key to our success.

MILITARY MENTOR ROLE: Current and former service members are eligible to volunteer for this incredible opportunity. Mentors are paired with their own mentee and work in small groups facilitated by an experienced leader. You may request the age group you’d like to work with. Children learn through active play, and the curriculum is designed to meet each child where they are in the grief process through engaging activities. The one-on-one time with your mentee gives them the companionship and support needed to feel comfortable connecting with peers and engaging in lessons.

Copy and paste this link to get a glimpse into the Military Mentor role: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seiad99SRcY&t=3s

Copy and paste this link to see a video showing the impact of Military Mentors and the Good Grief Camp on our youngest survivors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-0N54tmfi0T

MENTOR TRAINING: All mentors are required to attend a training session in person before companioning any TAPS child. Mentor training happens the morning before the camp begins and lasts over an hour. Military Mentors can expect to learn:

An overview of TAPS mission and core services

What grief is

Basics of childhood bereavement

How to work with grieving individuals - what to say/not say - how to companion

UNIFORM: Casual comfortable clothing and closed toed shoes. TAPS mentor t-shirts and a name tag are provided at training.

COST: All meals will be provided at no cost, and free parking is available on-site. There is limited lodging available Friday - Saturday nights to those who are travelling 40+ miles from the seminar.

HOW TO REGISTER:

Go to https://www.taps.org/militarymentor and complete the registration

Immediately log back into your new account and complete the background check release

You’ll receive an email when background check is completed, and THEN you can sign-up for the Southeast Regional Good Grief Camp

Please contact MENTORS@TAPS.ORG or 571-385-2565 with any questions about this volunteer opportunity.

About TAPS: The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 85,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).